The night before surgery I drank my special pre-op carb loading drink and set the alarm for 5.30 am. In the morning I had my last proper shower but wasn't allowed to moisturise or put on deodorant or make-up. I had my second pre-op drink at 6.00am and then it was nil by mouth. Not even a sip of water, which I found hard.
My lovely friend Sarah picked me up and we arrived at the hospital nice and early at 6.40am. At reception they checked a few details and then I took a seat. It didn't take long until my name was called out and I was whisked away to the ward. I was in Bed 1 and apparently number 1 on the list, so things were looking good. I was delighted to find that my bed was close to an open window and right next door the the toilets. The ward was full of women in different stages of recovery after having new knees or hips. The lady in bed 13 told me she had the op done two days earlier was already being discharged.
The curtain was thrown around my bed and I was asked to change into my gown and slippers, with some very fetching disposable knickers. Then it was a quick succession of visits. First the nurse to take my bloods, weight, blood pressure, pulse, etc., she also measured my legs for my surgical stockings and I was asked to put just one on my good leg for the operation.
Next the anaesthetist came and explained exactly what was going to happen. Then the consultants assistants came by and checked a few more things and drew on my left leg with marker pen to make sure that they would be operating on the correct leg.
Bed 13 gave me a double thumbs up as I was wheeled into theatre. I had my canula put in and a local anaesthetic to numb my spine before the epidural. A bag of ice cubes was then dabbed up my leg to ensure that I couldn't feel anything. I could feel the sensation of touch but not the sensation of cold. I was ready to go. The consultant, Mr White, and his two assistants came in and manoeuvred me onto my side and put me into a clamp to keep me in that position throughout the surgery.
I was then wrapped in a Bair hugger (warming blanket) and a little 'tent' was put over me so that I couldn't see what was happening at the other end of the operating table.
The anaesthetist popped one of my earphones into my left ear and pressed play on my Spotify playlist. I had compiled a list of 4 hours of LOUD songs to try and drown out the sounds of the operation. I think that I was awake for the whole procedure, its hard to tell as I'd also had a sedative. I do remember that the first song was IDLES - Gram Rock and the last song was IDLES - Danny Nedelko. I could hear voices and feel my leg being tugged and pushed and pulled, but no pain. The worst part was when it sounded like a sculptor had entered the room and was using a very loud hammer and chisel for about five minutes. No amount of IDLES was going to drown that out!
A couple of hours later (if that) I was being wheeled out again and briefly saw Mr White who smiled and said that it had all gone well and that my legs were now the same length. I said thank you as I was whisked to the recovery room.
I spent half an hour in recovery under constant observation as I came round from the anaesthetic and then it was back onto the ward.
The nurse came to check my blood pressure, pulse and temperature and advised me that they would be doing half hourly observations and that if everything was okay after the next round I would be allowed to have something to eat and a hot drink. It was lunch time and the food trolley was on the ward dishing out fish and chips to the other patients. I was so jealous.
I was in minimal pain, just a dull ache in my leg and I felt on top of the world. One nurse commented that I didn't even look as if I'd had an operation. Things were going great, but that was all about to change.
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